sweet. “I’m still waiting on that date.”
The food I just consumed sours in my stomach. I turn to look at Hank to find his eyes already watching me. “You better eat up before I steal them back,” I tell him when I want to do anything but. I already feel like I’m going to lose what I just ate, adding more food to that would be a huge mistake, but I couldn’t think of anything else to say.
“Reese, we’re long overdue for a girls’ night,” Tessa announces.
I offer her a grateful look, and her subtle nod tells me she knew she was saving me. “Yes. It’s been too long.”
“Aw, babe, why’s it have to be girls’ night?” Nixon whines.
“Because sometimes we just need the girls. You get me all the time,” she tells him.
“That’s how I like it.”
“You’ll be fine.” She pats his shoulder as he leans in and kisses her before she turns back to me. “Tonight?”
“It’s Sunday.”
“So? You don’t have class tomorrow until ten, right?”
As my best friend, she knows my schedule just as well as I do. She also knows me well enough to know that I need this even though I haven’t said anything to her about last night. “Yes.”
“Then, why not tonight? My first class is at ten thirty, so we can go out and have a few drinks, do some dancing, and be home in time to sleep it off and drag our asses to class tomorrow.”
“I’m in.”
“Reese.” Cooper’s deep voice pulls me in. I turn to look at him. The look he gives me is pleading.
“Oh, come on, Cooper. You know we’re not reckless,” Tessa says, saving me once again. “You boys will just have to do without us for one night.”
“Cooper.” The brunette, who is still standing between us, places her hand on his shoulder. “Maybe you and I can get together tonight.”
“Not interested,” he says through gritted teeth.
Looks like it’s not just me who’s not doing it for him.
“Let’s go back to the house and get our cars, and we can go home and get ready,” Tessa says, taking the final drink of her sweet tea.
“Wait. Where are you going?” Nixon asks.
“I’ll text you and let you know we’re safe. I promise to call if we need a ride.” Tessa kisses his cheek.
“Damnit, Tess. I’m your fiancé. I should know where you’re going to be,” Nixon says, his voice firm.
“I’m going to be out with my best friend. Are you saying that you don’t trust me?” she challenges.
“No. Damnit, I worry about you.” Nixon runs his fingers through his hair.
Grabbing the check, I stand. “Nix, you’re welcome to come with us,” I offer. I don’t want them to be at odds because she’s trying to make me feel better.
“No. He’s not,” Tessa says adamantly. “Nixon, you know I love you. I’m not sure where this is coming from, but I’m going out with my best friend. We’re going to have a few drinks and then come home. I’ll check in so you know we’re safe.”
“I don’t understand why you can’t just tell me where you’re going?”
“For one, I don’t know yet, and two, you and your posse of hulking football player friends will show up, and it’s girls’ night.”
“It’s fine, Tessa.”
“No, it’s not fine. You’re single, and with these goofs hulking out their muscles, you’re never going to find you a good man.”
Cooper makes a strangled sound from deep in his throat. A quick glance at him and his fists are clenched, and his eyes are closed.
“They’re not going to stop me,” I tell her, with less bravado than I was feeling a few seconds earlier after seeing Cooper. I don’t know what’s going on. He can’t have his cake and eat it too. He doesn’t want me. We’ve established that. I need to move on. He doesn’t know he broke my heart—I have to remind myself of that—but I know that going out and meeting new people is what I need to do. Cooper and his friends, who have become mine, are leaving, that includes Tessa. She’s following Nixon wherever he gets drafted. I’m about to be flying solo. I need to put myself out there.
“You and I both know that no guy is going to come near you if he’s there.” Tessa points across the table at Cooper. Then she turns her attention to Nixon. “I’ll text you where we’re going, and I’ll check-in. However, you are not to show up unless I tell you that I need you